samuel brohl & company-第37节

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〃What　have　you　against　him？〃

〃I　have　met　him　sometimes　at　Mme。　de　Lorcy's；　and　he　always　has　shown　me　a　most　dubious　politeness。　I　scent　in　him　an　enemy。〃

〃Pure　imagination！　M。　Langis　has　been　my　friend　from　childhood　up；　and　I　have　forewarned　him　that　it　is　his　duty　to　love　the　people　whom　I　love。〃

〃I　mistrust　these　childhood's　friends；〃　said　he；　growing　excited。　〃I　should　not　wonder　if　this　youth　was　in　love　with　you。〃

〃Ah；　indeed！　then　you　should　have　heard　him　but　now。　He　has　been　reminding　me；　this　youth；　that　two　years　ago　he　sought　my　hand；　and　he　assured　me　that　forty…eight　hours　sufficed　to　console　him　for　my　refusal。〃

〃I　did　not　know　that　the　case　was　so　grave；　or　the　personage　so　dangerous。　Truly；　do　you　mean　to　keep　him　to　dinner？〃

〃I　invited　him；　can　I　retract？〃

〃Very　well；　I　will　leave　the　place；〃　he　cried；　rising。

She　uplifted　her　eyes　to　his　face　and　remained　transfixed　with　astonishment；　so　completely　was　his　face　transformed。　His　contracted　brows　formed　an　acute　angle；　and　he　had　a　sharp；　hard；　evil　air。　This　was　a　Larinski　with　whom　she　was　not　yet　acquainted；　or　rather　it　was　Samuel　Brohl　who　had　just　appeared　to　herSamuel　Brohl；　who　had　entered　upon　the　scene　as　suddenly　as　though　he　had　emerged　from　a　magic　surprise…box。　She　could　not　remove　her　eyes　from　him；　and　he　at　once　perceived　the　impression　he　was　making　on　her。　Forthwith　Samuel　Brohl　re…entered　his　box；　whose　cover　closed　over　him；　and　it　was　a　true　Pole　who　said　to　Mlle。　Moriaz；　in　a　grave；　melancholy；　and　respectful　tone：

〃Pardon　me；　I　am　not　always　master　of　my　impressions。〃

〃That　is　right；〃　said　she；　〃and　you　will　remain；　won't　you？〃

〃Impossible；〃　he　replied；　〃I　should　be　cross；　and　you　would　not　be　pleased。〃

She　urged　him；　he　opposed　her　entreaties　with　a　polite　but　firm　resistance。

〃Adieu；〃　said　she。　〃When　shall　I　see　you　again？〃

〃To…morrowor　the　day　afterI　do　not　know。〃

〃Really；　do　you　not　know？〃

He　perceived　that　her　eyes　were　full　of　tears。　Tenderly　kissing　her　hand　he　said；　with　a　smile　that　consoled　her：

〃This　is　the　first　time　we　have　had　any　dispute；　it　is　possible　that　I　may　be　wrong；　but　it　seems　to　me　that　if　I　were　a　woman　I　would　not　willingly　marry　a　man　who　was　always　right。〃

These　words　uttered；　he　assured　himself　anew　that　her　eyes　were　humid；　and　then　he　left；　charmed　to　have　proved　the　extent　of　the　empire　he　held　over　her。

When　she　rejoined　M。　Langis；　the　young　man　asked：

〃Does　it　chance　to　be　I　who　put　Count　Larinski　to　flight？　If　so；　I　should　be　quite　heart…broken。〃

〃Reassure　yourself；〃　said　she；　〃he　came　expressly　to　inform　me　that　his　evening　was　not　free。〃

The　dinner　was　only　passably　lively。　Mlle。　Moiseney　owed　M。　Langis　a　grudge；　she　could　not　forgive　him　for　having　made　fun　of　her　more　than　oncein　her　eyes　an　unpardonable　sin。　M。　Moriaz　was　enchanted　to　find　himself　once　more　in　company　with　his　dear　Camille；　but　he　kept　asking　himself；　mournfully；　〃Why　is　not　he　to　be　my　son…in…law？〃　Antoinette　had　several　attacks　of　abstraction；　she　did　not；　however；　omit　the　least　friendly　attention　to　Camille。　Love　had　become　master　of　this　generous　soul；　it　might　cause　it　to　commit　many　imprudences；　but　it　was　not　in　its　power　to　cause　it　to　commit　an　injustice。

At　nine　o'clock　M。　Langis　mounted　his　horse　and　took　his　departure。

Meanwhile；　Mlle。　Moriaz；　her　arm　resting　on　the　ledge　of　her　window；　was　meditating　on　the　strange　conduct　of　Count　Larinski　as　she　gazed　on　the　stars；　the　sky　was　without　clouds；　unless　a　little　black　speck　above　Mount…Valerien　might　be　so　called。　Mlle。　Moriaz's　heart　swelled　with　emotion；　and　she　felt　implicit　confidence　that　all　would　be　arranged　the　next　day。　What　is　one　black　spot　in　the　immensity　of　a　starry　sky？



CHAPTER　X

In　all　that　Samuel　Brohl　did；　even　in　his　wildest　freaks；　there　was　somewhat　of　calculation；　or　contrivance。　Unquestionably；　he　had　experienced　intense　displeasure　at　encountering　M。　Camille　Langis　at　Cormeilles；　he　had；　doubtless；　very　particular　and　very　personal　reasons　for　not　liking　him。　He　knew；　however；　that　there　was　need　for　controlling　his　temper；　his　impressions；　his　rancour；　and；　if　he　ceased　to　do　so　for　a　moment；　it　was　because　he　counted　upon　deriving　advantage　therefrom。　He　was　impatient　to　enter　into　possession；　to　feel　his　good…fortune　sheltered　from　all　hazards；　delays；　procrastinations；　long　waiting；　displeased　and　irritated　him。　He　suspected　M。　Moriaz　of　purposely　putting　his　shoulder　to　the　wheel　of　time；　and　of　preparing　a　contract　that　would　completely　tie　the　hands　of　Count　Larinski。　He　resolved　to　seize　the　first　opportunity　of　proving　that　he　was　mistrustful；　stormy；　susceptible；　in　the　hope　that　Mlle。　Moriaz　would　become　alarmed　and　say　to　her　father；　〃I　intend　to　marry　in　three　weeks；　and　without　any　conditions。〃　The　opportunity　had　presented　itself；　and　Samuel　Brohl　had　taken　good　care　not　to　lose　it。

The　next　day　he　received　the　following　note：

　〃You　have　caused　me　pain；　a　great　deal　of　pain。　Already！　I　passed　a　　　sorrowful　evening；　and　slept　wretchedly　all　night。　I　have　　　reflected　seriously　upon　our　dispute；　I　have　endeavoured　to　　　persuade　myself　that　I　was　in　the　wrong：　I　have　neither　been　able　　　to　succeed；　nor　to　comprehend　you。　Ah！　how　your　lack　of　confidence　　　astonishes　me！　It　is　so　easy　to　believe　when　one　loves。　Please　　　write　me　word　quickly　that　you　also　have　reflected；　and　that　you　　　have　acknowledged　your　misdemeanour。　I　will　not　insist　upon　your　　　doing　penance；　your　face　humbled　to　the　ground；　but　I　will　condemn　　　you　to　love　me　to…day　more　than　yesterday；　to…morrow　more　than　　　to…day。　Upon　these　conditions；　I　will　pass　a　sponge　across　your　　　grave　error；　and　we　shall　speak　of　it　no　more。

〃Ever　yours。　It　is　agreed；　is　it　not？〃　Samuel　Brohl　had　the　surprise　of　receiving　at　the　same　time　another

letter；　thus　worded：

　〃MY　DEAR　COUNT：　I　cannot　explain　to　myself　your　conduct；　you　no　　　longer　give　me　any　signs　of　life。　I　believed　that　I　had　some　　　claims　upon　you；　and　that　you　would　hasten　to　announce　to　me　in　　　person　the　great　event　of　events；　and　seek　my　congratulations。　　　Come；　I　beg　of　you；　and　dine　this　evening　at　Maisons　with　Abbe　　　Miollens；　who　is　dying　to　embrace　you；　he　studies　men　in　Horace；　　　you　know；　and　he　finds　none　whom　he　prefers　to　you。

　〃You　need　not　answer；　but　come；　else　I　will　be　displeased　with　you　　　as　long　as　I　live。〃

Samuel　replied　as　follows　to　Mlle。　Moriaz：

　〃Be　assured　I　have　suffered　more　than　you。　Forgive　me；　much　should　　　be　forgiven　a　man　who　has　suffered　much。　My　imagination　is　subject　　　to　the　wildest　alarms。　Great；　unlooked…for　joy　has　rendered　me　　　mistrustful。　I　have　been　especially　low…spirited　of　late。　After　　　having　resolutely　fought　against　my　happiness；　I　tremble　now　lest　　　it　escape　me；　it　appears　to　me　too　beautiful　not　to　prove　only　a　　　dream。　To　be　loved　by　you！　How　can　I　help　fearing　to　lose　the　　　great　boon？　Each　evening　I　ask　myself：　'Will　she　still　love　me　　　to…morrow？'　Perhaps　my　anxiety　is　blended　with　secret　remorse。　My　　　pride；　ever　on　the　alert　to　take　umbrage；　has　often　been　my　　　torment；　you　can　tell　me　it　is　only　self…love：　I　will　endeavour　to　　　cure　myself　of　it；　but　this　cannot　be　done　in　a　day。　During　these　　　long　months　of　waiting　there　will　come　to　me　more　than　one　　　suspicion；　more　than　one　troubled　thought。　I　promise　you；　however；　　　that　I　shall　maintain　a　rigid　silence　concerning　them；　and；　if　　　possible；　hide　them。

　〃You　condemn　me；　for　my　punishment；　to　love　you　to…day　more　than　　　yesterday；　you　know　well　this　were　impossible。　No；　I　shall　inflict　　　upon　myself　another　chastisement。　Mme。　de　Lorcy　has　invited　me　to　　　dinner。　I　suspect　her　of　having　a　very　mediocre　feeling　of　good…　　　will　for　me；　and　I　also　accuse　her　of　being　cold　and　insensible；　　　of　understanding　nothing　whatever　of　the　heart's　unreasonableness；　　　which　is　true　wisdom。　Nevertheless；　I　will　refrain　from　declining　　　her　invitation。　It　is　at　Maisons　and　not　at　Cormeilles　that　I　　　shall　this　day　pass　my　evening。　Are　you　content　with　me？　Is　not　　　the　penance　severe　enough？

　〃But　to…morrowoh！　I　shall　arrive　at　your　home　to…morrow　by　two　　　o'clock；　and　I　shall　enter　by　the　little　green　gate　at　the　foot　of　　　the　orchard。　Will　you　do　me　a　favour？　Promenade　about　two　o'clock　　　in　the　gravel…walk　that　I　adore。　The　wall　being　low　at　that　place；　　　I　shall　perceive　from　afar；　before　entering；　the　white　silk　of　　　your　sun…umbrella。　I　am　counting；　you　see；　upon　sunshine。　How　very　　　childish！　Yet；　even　this　is　not　strange；　I　was　born　three　months　　　and　a　half　ago；　I　commenced　to　live　July　5th　of　this　year；　at　four　　　o'clock　in　the　afternoon；　in　the　cathedral　at　Chur。　Forgive　me　all　　　my　errors；　my　suspicions；　my　childish　absurdities。〃

Mlle。　Moriaz　concluded　that　it　would　be　well　to　shorten　the　term　of　waiting；　and　that　she　would　ask　Count　Larinski　to　fix　the　date　of　their　marriage　himself。　As　to　the　contract；　she　had　immediate　occasion　to　speak　of　it　to　her　father；　who　announced　to　her　that　he　had　invited　his　notary；　Maitre　Noirot；　to　dine　with　him　the　next　day。

She　was　silent　a　few　moments；　and　then　said；　〃Can　you　explain　to　me　the　use　of　notaries？〃

He　replied　about　as　did　/le　Philosophe　sans　le　savoir/：